“I guess I deserve that one.”
Without replying, Florian leaned closer to Kade, who wrapped him up in a hug immediately. He could feel Kade’s pulse beating quickly in his throat from where he pressed his cheek against the other man’s shoulder; somehow, it made him feel a little better that Kade was nervous about all this too.
They held each other silently for a long moment until finally Florian pulled away with a chagrined smile.
“Guess I’d better get ready,” he sighed. Kade nodded, then moved to wake Koji, who was still asleep on the other side of the room. Florian dressed and packed his things mechanically, trying not to think about what they would be setting out to do, but his conversation with Rune replayed in his mind the whole time. They had to get the Arrow, no matter what, then they would use it to get into the castle. He wasn’t sure what made him feel more nervous.
Kade had already packed, and Koji was ready quickly. They weren’t sure if they would be returning to the safe room after everything was said and done, so they packed away the entire setup, leaving the ice room empty. Florian left behind the metal box of coins but tucked Thallia’s notes away in his bag, where they would be safe.
“Ready?” Kade asked, pulling him from his thoughts. Koji was standing in the doorway, waiting for them. Florian gave one last look around the room, then nodded, following the others as they headed back out.
Rune was waiting for them at the wall, sitting cross-legged at the top and looking out into the Blight. A few golden beetles had gathered near the wall; some clustered together, but most of them were buzzing back and forth between the city and the hills. Luckily, there weren’t enough to block visibility of the hills beyond.
“Nothing to report,” she said with a smirk, giving a half-hearted salute as she spoke.
“Good,” Florian replied with a strained chuckle. “Hopefully everything else goes this, uh, smoothly.”
The words felt stupid as soon as he said them, so he clamped his mouth shut as Rune hopped down from the wall, and together they headed down past the gates and into the Blight.Kade walked beside him; and after a few steps outside the city, he reached for Florian’s hand, despite the heat prickling their skin. Florian smiled weakly over at him and squeezed his hand, grateful for the comforting gesture, small as it was.
A few beetles clung to Florian’s clothes, but he waved them away with his hand. Most of them were flitting back and forth between him and the hills up ahead, leading the way to Valyris’ cave. When it came into view, Florian could just see the faint glint of the Arrow from within, and as they drew closer, Valyris stepped out.
His expression was grim, but he held no weapons. Florian’s heart pounded in his chest as the centaur walked toward them, but he stopped short. Florian paused too, watching him carefully; the others came to halt behind him, Kade releasing his grip on his hand.
“I am ready, Winter King,” Valyris said, slowly lowering himself into a kneeling position. He clasped his hands in front of him; even from this distance, Florian could see they were trembling. “I only ask that you make it quick. Please. My people have waited for me to join them for many years.”
Florian nodded, swallowing hard. His own hands were shaking too, as he reached for the sword at his hip, the hilt slipping in his sweaty palms. Part of him had been expecting something long and drawn out—a fight, or at least more meaningful last words from the only survivor of the Summer Court. But Valyris had closed his eye and bowed his head, silent and waiting.
He stood there for a long time, sword in hand, staring at the motionless centaur. His mind was racing, leaving him frozen with indecision. This was it. He had to do it. He kept thinking of Rune saying she would do it if he couldn’t—half of him wanting to turn to her and ask her to take over, the other half burning with shame that he was too weak to see this through.
“Florian,” Kade said softly from behind him. The wolf shifter’s hand touched his shoulder lightly, but still made him jump. “Let me help.”
Florian’s mouth worked wordlessly for a moment as he tried to protest, but he couldn’t force himself to say it. He could barely keep his grip on his sword, making him feel all the more pathetic.
Kade stepped ahead of him without waiting for a response; Rune joined him, just a step behind. Koji grabbed his left arm, gently tugging him back.
“We don’t need to watch this,” he whispered, but Florian shook his head. If he couldn’t do this himself, the least he could do was stand watch.
It was over impossibly fast. Kade had his sword drawn already as he came up beside Valyris, and eyed him carefully for just a moment before raising the sword over his head and swinging it down with a grunt of exertion. Blood sprayed as the decapitated head fell to the ground with a thud, then a moment later, the rest of the body slumped to fall onto its side. Florian swallowed hard, feeling like he might puke. He had expected it to be harder, considering how long Valyris had survived out here. But that was all it took—one heavy, well-placed swing of a sword. It felt overwhelming and anticlimactic all at once.
Rune had been on the other side of Kade and now reached down to pull the Arrow out of the centaur’s eye. It seemed stuck fast as she pulled; with a grimace, she muttered an apology and used her foot to press down on the skull for leverage, pulling harder until the Arrow came free with a wet ripping sound.
“Gods above,” Koji muttered from behind Florian, sounding as sick as he felt.
“At least it was fast,” Florian said faintly. “Like he asked.”
“Here,” Rune said, trudging back over to Florian with her hand outstretched, offering him the Arrow. He’d half-expected it tobe covered in gore, considering how long it had been stuck in Valyris’ skull; but the gleaming gold metal was barely bloodied at all, as if it repelled all the viscera from its shiny surface. When Florian reached to take it, his hands were still shaking.
“Look,” Kade said suddenly. Rune turned around, and Florian peered past her. With the Arrow and its magic no longer connected to Valyris’ body, the centaur’s remains were quickly burning away in the Blight. Florian bit his lip, guilt panging in his chest. He should have expected this to happen, but part of him had been hoping that they could at least bury him properly. Kade’s eyes met his, and the wolf shifter looked just as pained. “Sorry, Florian.”
Florian shook his head. “No, I... We knew this would happen. The Arrow kept him from burning up out here, so it makes sense. I just...” He trailed off, unsure of what else he was trying to articulate. His chest felt tight, but he didn’t know what he wanted to say. Instead, he stepped past Rune to come up alongside Kade, watching the body crumble to ash in a matter of minutes.
“Thank you,” he finally said softly, once the form of Valyris was mostly gone. “I’m sorry it had to end this way. But you’ve saved everyone by doing this. I hope you can rest now. You’ve more than earned it.”
Kade gently squeezed his shoulder, and they remained standing watch until even the bones had burned away. But the Blight was merciless, and it didn’t take long until there was truly nothing left of Valyris, except the Arrow thrumming with magic in Florian’s grasp.
With his free hand, Florian reached up to wipe his eyes; it felt like he was crying, but it was too hot for the tears to gather. Instead, he just pressed his fingers hard against his goggles until the feeling passed. He sucked in a deep, steadying breath, then turned to address the others.
“This is the last one,” he said, his voice coming out hoarse. “Let’s head up to the castle and figure out what we’re going to do.”
He could feel the other three observing him for a moment. Whatever they were waiting for, he wasn’t sure—maybe they thought he would truly start crying now, which only made him feel more embarrassed. He was supposed to be the leader, but maybe it was too late for that now.
Finally, though, Kade nodded, sheathing his sword.
“You heard him,” he said, taking Florian’s hand. “Let’s go.”
